Portable suspended shelf

ABSTRACT

A portable suspended shelf assembly includes a channel-shaped shelf releasably supported by a bracket or a plurality of brackets at spaced intervals along the shelf. Each bracket has a horizontally disposed support portion under the base portion and an upturned inner end portion adapted to fasten to a wall. One depression is formed in the bracket slidably receiving an inner side wall projection of the shelf and another depression is formed in the bracket slidably receiving an outer side wall projection of the shelf. End plates with a pair of depending laterally spaced pins extend downwardly into a plurality of apertures at spaced intervals along the shelf.

United States Patent [191 Vianzon Jan. 22, 1974 1 PORTABLE SUSPENDED SHELF [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,973

[52] US. Cl. 211/90, 211/184 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 5/08 [58] Field of Search..... 211/184, 43, 42, 90, 88, 87, 211/51; 248/248, 250, 235, 247, 242, 241;

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Sweden 211/90 Primary ExaminerRamon S. Britts [57] ABSTRACT A portable suspended shelf assembly includes a channel-shaped shelf releasably supported by a bracket or a plurality of brackets at spaced intervals along the shelf. Each bracket has a horizontally disposed support portion under the base portion and an upturned inner end portion adapted to fasten to a wall. One depression is formed in the bracket slidably receiving an inner side wall projection of the shelf and another depression is formed in the bracket slidably receiving an outer side wall projection of the shelf. End plates with a pair of depending laterally spaced pins extend downwardly into a plurality of apertures at spaced intervals along the shelf.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJANZZIQM FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 PORTABLE SUSPENDED SHELF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel and improved portable suspended shelf assembly in which the shelf is readily mounted on and demounted from one or more support wall-mounted brackets.

An object of this invention is to provide a portable suspended shelf assembly complete for installation on walls and has a unique appearance which can be used for both decorator shelves and bookshelves in homes, offices and public places.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel suspended shelf assembly that can be used for storage shelves in kitchens, closets and in workshops and are also adaptable to commercial display of goods and can be arranged in series or in multiples.

Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a suspended shelf assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the suspended shelf assembly taken through a bracket to show the tightfitting releasable connection therebetween;

Referring now to the drawings, two wall brackets each designated by numeral 1 are shown supporting a shelf 2. The brackets are preferably made of metal with a minimum size of 0.10 inch thick and 1 inch wide and are positioned at spaced intervals along the shelf and spaced inwardly from the ends thereof for a balanced support.

The length of each bracket is adjusted to the width of the shelf and is comprised of a horizontal arm or support portion 11 and an angular bend or upturned inner end portion 12 at a bend of 90 to the horizontal arm 11 together with an arcuate depression 13 between the horizontal arm and angular bend 12 and an outer arcuate depression 14 formed at the outer end thereof. These depressions formed in the bracket are shaped to slidably receive and grip the sides of the shelf in a relatively tight-fitting relationship as shown in FIG. 2.

Punched-slotted holes 15 are provided in the upturned inner end portions for bolts or screws ofa threesixteenths inch diameter or the like to fasten or fix these brackets to a wall. These brackets are to be installed to support the shelf at about one-fourth the length of the shelf from both ends which is about 6 inches of a 24 inch long shelf.

Shelf 2 has a base portion 16, an inner side wall projection 17 projecting downwardly from the inner side edge of the base portion and an outer side wall projection 18 projecting downwardly from the outer side edge. of the base portion, the side wall projections extending longitudinally of the base portion and parallel to one another. The side wall projections 17 and 18 are curled inwardly and upwardly at the lower ends thereof and conform to or are complementary thereto so as to snapfit into the depressions in the brackets. The depressions in the shelf forming the side wall projections are channel-like and in a preferred fonn are about one-fourth inch wide and 1 inch in depth. Slotted holes 19 are provided in the base portion along each side edge. These holes 19 are about three-sixteenths inch diameter and 2 inches apart and about 1 inch from the longitudinal sides of the shelf. The shelf may be made of either metal gage 24 or thicker, or of hard plastic material. A preferred minimal size of the shelf 2 is 6 inches wide and 24 inches long.

A pair of end plates 3 each having two laterally spaced bent pins 21 at the bottom thereof are removably mounted on the shelf 2. These pins 21 are to match and slidably fit in the holes 19 in the shelf for easy removal and change the spacing between end plates 3 to divide the shelf into describable segments. The width of the end plates are equal to that of the shelf and preferably have a minimum height of 6 inches. A pair of laterally spaced vertical ribs 22 and 23 are provided in the end plates for rigidity and the end plates 3 may be preferably either of metal gage 24 or hard plastic material the same as shelf 2.

It is appreciated that all of the components of the above described shelf assembly can be manufactured commercially by mold or die process and packed neatly when dismounted.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A suspended shelf assembly comprising;

a generally channel-shaped shelf having a base portion and an inner side wall projection projecting downwardly from the inner side edge of the base portion and an outer side wall projection projecting downwardly from the outer side edge of the base portion, and

at least one wall bracket releasably supporting said shelf, said bracket including a horizontally disposed support portion under said base portion and an upturned inner end portion adapted to fasten to the wall, said bracket having a first depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said inner side wall projection in a relatively tightfitting relation, said first depression located at the inner side edge of the support portion at said upturned inner end portion and a second depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said outer side wall projection in a relatively tightfitting relation, said second depression located at the outer side edge of the shelf support whereby the shelf is held in a relatively tight-fitting connection with the bracket against lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the bracket.

2. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including end plates removably mounted on the shelf, each shelf having fastening means associated with the shelf to releasably fasten the end plates at selected positions along the shelf in a parallel relation to one another.

3. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fastening means is in the form of a pair of bent pins depending from each end plate received in a selected pair of holes located at spaced intervals along the shelf.

4. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shelf is formed of a material of substantially uniform thickness with the side projections turned down from the base portion and curled inwardly and upwardly at the lower ends thereof.

5. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said shelf and said bracket are each formed of a single piece of metal.

6. A suspended shelf assembly comprising;

a generally channel-shaped shelf having a base portion and an inner side wall projection projecting downwardly from the inner side edge of the base portion and an outer side wall projection projecting downwardly from the outer side edge of the base portion,

a pair of wall brackets at spaced intervals along the shelf releasably supporting said shelf, each said bracket including a horizontally disposed support portion under said base portion and an upturned inner end portion adapted to fasten to the wall, each said bracket having a first depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said inner side wall projection in a relatively tight-fitting relation, said first depression being located at the inner side edge of the support portion at said upturned inner end portion and a second depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said outer side wall projection in a relatively tight-fitting relation, said second depression located at the outer side edge of the shelf support thereby the shelf is held in a tight snap-fitting connection with the bracket against lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the bracket, said shelf having apertures in the base portion at spaced intervals therealong, and

pair of end plates, each plate having a pair of depending pins releasably inserted into selected of said apertures in a parallel relation to one another. 

1. A suspended shelf assembly comprising; a generally channel-shaped shelf having a base portion and an inner side wall projection projecting downwardly from the inner side edge of the base portion and an outer side wall projection projecting downwardly from the outer side edge of the base portion, and at least one wall bracket releasably supporting said shelf, said bracket including a horizontally disposed support portion under said base portion and an upturned inner end portion adapted to fasten to the wall, said bracket having a first depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said inner side wall projection in a relatively tight-fitting relation, said first depression located at the inner side edge of the support portion at said upturned inner end portion and a second depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said outer side wall projection in a relatively tight-fitting relation, said second depression located at the outer side edge of the shelf support whereby the shelf is held in a relatively tight-fitting connection with the bracket against lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the bracket.
 2. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including end plates removably mounted on the shelf, each shelf having fastening means associated with the shelf to releasably fasten the end plates at selected positions along the shelf in a parallel relation to one another.
 3. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fastening means is in the form of a pair of bent pins depending from each end plate received in a selected pair of holes located at spaced intervals along the shelf.
 4. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shelf is formed of a material of substantially uniform thickness with the side projections turned down from the base portion and curled inwardly and upwardly at the lower ends thereof.
 5. A suspended shelf assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said shelf and said bracket are each formed of a single piece of metal.
 6. A suspended shelf assembly comprising; a generally channel-shaped shelf having a base portion and an inner side wall projection projecting downwardly froM the inner side edge of the base portion and an outer side wall projection projecting downwardly from the outer side edge of the base portion, a pair of wall brackets at spaced intervals along the shelf releasably supporting said shelf, each said bracket including a horizontally disposed support portion under said base portion and an upturned inner end portion adapted to fasten to the wall, each said bracket having a first depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said inner side wall projection in a relatively tight-fitting relation, said first depression being located at the inner side edge of the support portion at said upturned inner end portion and a second depression shaped complementary to and slidably receiving said outer side wall projection in a relatively tight-fitting relation, said second depression located at the outer side edge of the shelf support thereby the shelf is held in a tight snap-fitting connection with the bracket against lateral and longitudinal movement relative to the bracket, said shelf having apertures in the base portion at spaced intervals therealong, and a pair of end plates, each plate having a pair of depending pins releasably inserted into selected of said apertures in a parallel relation to one another. 